Hills?

[Mitch94]

I live in a seriously hilly area of country lanes and some of the running time lengths are agony! I don't know how well I'm doing because I don't know how much a hill is meant to effect running stamina, can anyone help?

[RainbowC Graduate]

On the bright side, they're very good for stamina, so any time you run somewhere flatter you're likely to find it much easier and quicker

I can identify with the problem; I spent my first few months avoiding the hills round here as much as possible; it's only in the past few weeks that I've voluntarily started including some in my normal routes!

[lucykate]

I live in a place called Brighton Hill (the clue is in the name!) My first route ENDED with a really steep hill. Was really tough and definitely slowed me down but, as Laura always says,its about building stamina and endurance. As long as it doesn't prevent you completing the programme you'll end up with more stamina than id you didn'tdo hils.....and probably really big calf muscles!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Oh boy you girls and guys have my admiration. I avoided hills (UPS) when I first started. In your case you can't but you'll be the better runners in the long term. You will have much more strength and stamina than someone like me who ran on flatish ground for the first 6 weeks. I then decided it was silly to avoid the ups any longer. Just about killed me though. When I look back and I'm being honest here, if I had had hills to contend with early on I may well have not graduated, in fact I doubt I would have got past week 2!!! Well done and even if you have to repeat the odd run or two it really will make you better stronger runners.

[AnnieW55]

Me too, in fact I don't have any flat to run on near home - my first flat run was last weekend at a Parkrun..... and I didn't really like it! I've spent the last 7 months wishing I could have a flat run, got one and didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I suppose I could get in the car and drive somewhere flat but that would be a few miles and anyway I want to run from home when I want.

Just take it really steadily on the hills, short steps and slow is the way. It is possible to run slower than you walk, I know as I do it on my particular 'beast' most times. My beast beat me for weeks and I had to walk at least some part of it but I think we're about even now, perhaps beastie is a touch ahead of me on points

One thing I did notice last week was that I'm now running some of the hills and not noticing them too much whereas when I started I struggled from one lamp post to the next.

If you keep at it it will do your stamina a world of good.